Sassone reports the Blackhawks are interested in center Frans Nielson, and have moved their blue line focus to Mark Streit.

Before the season began, we talked about Nielson as a potential center target. His work on special teams makes him a perfect fit for the Hawks, though his faceoff percentage (45.2)wouldn’t be much of an upgrade from Dave Bolland and Marcus Kruger.

To date, Nielson has three goals (one of which came short-handed) and 15 assists while averaging 18:06 on ice per game. He has also been credited with 21 takeaways and 37 blocked shots, and continues to average more than two minutes per night on both powerplay and penalty kill duties.

Streit would move into a primary role on the Hawks’ powerplay, and has an expiring contract after this season.

…I read on a different blog (one “famous” for rumors) that “Dale Tallon is still in dogged pursuit of elite Hawk prospect Teuvo Teravainen.” – wouldn’t any deal have to begin with Jonathan Huberdeau? And, probably include Peter Mueller…? If I was the GM, that would be my stance.

Nielson and Streit would be great additions to the lineup. Streit is a good DMan, but he is taxed too much in Long Island…for 4 years they have played him 24-25 minutes a game…if you go back to his seasons in Montreal on the 2nd pairing, skating only 18/19 minutes a game, he put up 60+ points.

He would pair up beautifully with Hammer on the 2nd pairing playing 20/22 minutes a night…he would QB the PP, and then you would see a point shot and pinpoint passing. This would help the Hawks immeasurably going into the playoffs…and while Streit is not a big, punishing DMan, his game is stripping the puck and then quickly moving it out of the zone…he rarely gets trapped deep, taking big hits and turning over the puck…a very smooth, smart DMan.

Franz Nielson is said to be the best all around player on the Islanders…he is smart, and good at all aspects of his game. His first 2 seasons in the league saw his face-off % at 50%, but the last 2 years it has been between 45/46%. He is a smooth skater, in great shape, being able to skate long shifts if need be, and a very good passer. He led the NHL in shorthanded goals with 7 two years ago, and leads the entire NHL currently in Shootout % at 62.5%. There is a lot to like about Nielson…a lot of people say that Kruger is another year away from becoming a Franz Nielson type player…15/20 goals a year…50/60 points per season. Not a banger, or a tough guy, but like Kruger he goes into the corners and does whatever it takes to win…you win with guys like Nielson…and yes, he has the speed to skate with Kane and Sharp.

If we can make a deal to get these two, and have to give up Oduya, plus multiple prospects and draft picks, you do it…they will help us get over the top. I fear that if Bowman can’t pull this off, all that will be left out there is a marginal player at the last second, and we will have to overpay for that.

Moving forward, Nielson’s contract hit of $2.75 million per season is VERY reasonable for his overall value ($600K less than Bolland), and at 35 Streit is coming off a deal that paid him $4.1 million per year. The Hawks could afford to give Streit a longer deal with a longer CAP hit to fit him in over the next 2 seasons if they wanted.

With contracts like Bollands, Oduyas and Froliks gone after this season, the Hawks could afford to keep their pending FAs and resign Streit…if they wanted.

I keep coming back to the same question – why does “team x” do this. In this case – why do the Islanders trade to key pieces of their team when they’re on the cusp of making the playoffs for the first time in years? I know the Islanders are notorious cheapskates and will pinch a penny where they can, but getting into the playoffs, if only for a couple home games in the first round, would be a revenue generator and I would think more than offset the money saved in trading a couple players. So I just don’t believe this is anything more than GMs making themselves look busy.

ER, I hope you are wrong…Streit is 35 and a FA…Nielson may have progressed as far as he can go in their eyes, and the Isles are actually pretty strong up the middle. This deal would make them a lot younger and more cost effective. Players like Olsen and Morin have a high ceiling.

If the Blackhawks were to trade Hjalmarsson and Shaw for a couple middling prospects, I, as a Hawks fan, would be pretty upset that the chances for playoff success were diminished. Isn’t that the way the Islanders would feel if they were to trade a couple of the middle tier roster players for a couple guys that haven’t established anything at the NHL level and are just GradeB (at best) level prospects? Even if it’s the best move for the organization long term, it sends the signal that they are giving up on their chance to make the playoffs this season which would be the first time in a long time.

Those shootout numbers are just sick. And though it’s not used in playoffs, if a guy is scoring in SO over and over, he’s got some scoring ‘ability’ . I do remember him being concussed a year or so ago….not sure how bad or how often?? He surely would benefit from playing in Chicago as opposed to LI. Would like to see a little better f/o % number , 43A/47H …. little soft for what I’d like to see but…..

It really sounds like the Islander aren’t interested in partly w Frans according to numerous reports on Sassone’s piece. However, Streit is def available if he can’t be assigned. I also heard the Hawks have scouts in Phx following Yandle. Both players would be upgrades on the top 4 D. It be even nicer if Hanzel could be pried away but this wishful thinking.